Cologne – In Glasgow, politicians draw the big lines, on the Ahr a forester shows his little world and in “Hard but fair” Frank Plasberg asks: “Sick forests, flooded valleys: Is climate protection being taken seriously now?”
The guests
►Peter Wohlleben (57). The forester and book author (“The Secret Life of Trees”) mocked his minister after the election: “Julia Klöckner has just been fired – forest and animals breathe easy.”
►Anne Spiegel (40, green). The Mainz Environment Minister said: “Extreme weather such as the flood disaster have shown how important it is to act quickly.”
►Sebastian Lachmann (35). The industrial clerk at the Cottbus mining and power plant operator LEAG demands: “We don’t always need new and more radical goals, but finally plans that we can rely on!”
►Carla Reemtsma (23). Five days ago, the climate activist (“Fridays for Future”) called for “Markus Lanz” to “radicalize the forms of action” of her troops.
►Dorothea Siems (58). The business journalist (WELT) warns: “CO2 emissions are increasing dramatically worldwide. So it makes little sense if we just look at ourselves. “
When it comes to the climate, the guest list is always great: more women than men, and only the talk show host himself is over 60. What does that mean for the Zoff-o-Meter?
Most controversial start helpers
Before the discussion begins, two forest experts get into an ARD clip: Forester Christoph Abs praises his timber as sustainable, because the transport routes are short and the former supplier countries now prefer to keep their forests.
Wohlleben, on the other hand, railed: “I think it’s totally crazy that the solution to the fight against climate change should be to cut down more trees!” “Trains. Sounds like a draw!
Most shocking document
Wohlleben then shows a mobile phone video from the day of the flood: enormous masses of water flow through his mountain forest into the Ahr valley. “I’ve never seen rain like this before,” he reports, visibly shocked.
The catastrophic consequences show television images from the small town of Schuld. A house owner describes the devastating damage to the forester and bravely says: “We want to stay here!”
“Climate change is by no means as big a topic worldwide as it is in Germany,” said WELT journalist Dorothea Siems (58)Photo: ARD
Most alarming prophecy
Activist Reemtsma puts the bad waters on her political mill: The Ahr flood shows “that we now have to take consistent climate protection measures in order to avoid much, much more such fate,” she explains.
Because, according to the student: “The world is getting hotter. We are experiencing more climate disasters. Storms, floods, crop failures. It will be much more dramatic! “
Most elegant evasive maneuver
Plasberg doesn’t seem very convinced. The homeowner out of guilt can hardly contribute anything in the fight against climate change, he says. Because their roof is too small for solar cells and a car with a combustion engine is indispensable for driving to work in Cologne. His question: “What should these people do?”
The activist’s nimble answer: “That is the problem that we so often try to outsource the climate crisis and the burden of containing the climate crisis and reducing emissions to the individual citizens. And that’s just absurd. We need consistent political measures! “
Most bureaucratic info
Reemtsma’s demands: “Autobahn construction freeze. Earlier coal phase-out. Preventing gas entry. Eliminate fossil subsidies. “Uff! In the Ahr Valley, it is now about roads, bridges, heating, electricity.
Carla Reemtsma (23) is, among other things, spokeswoman for the climate movement “Fridays For Future”Photo: ARD
The minister is much closer: the reconstruction will “take months and years,” she predicts. Their contribution to this, by no means to be underestimated: the “new temporary floodplain”, designated according to the federal water protection, provides a framework for construction bans and requirements.
Most legitimate objection
“Climate change is by no means as big a topic worldwide as it is in Germany,” the WELT journalist notes. “With the coal phase-out, we are faster than most countries.”
But, so their criticism: “We have made an exit from nuclear power. Climate researchers see this very differently, because it is something that has set us back for the first time. “
Most in-depth analysis
“If we want to switch off the coal, we can do that today, but then the program will no longer take place today,” says the expert from Lusatia.
What annoys Lachmann most is the political competition for an earlier coal exit: “What we keep hearing is driving a new pig through the village!” He grumbles. Germany is not yet ready for this, neither in terms of energy storage nor in the hydrogen economy.
Then the Zoff-o-Meter starts
Then the Lusatian stabbed the wasp’s nest: “Politicians took up the issue before the election,” he says of the flood disaster, “and said to blame everything on climate change …”
Oha! “That has been scientifically proven!” Reemtsma says indignantly.
“First of all it was the weather and not the climate,” claims Lachmann unmoved.
Sebastian Lachmann (35), industrial clerk at the Cottbus mining and power plant operator LEAG, said: “We are concentrating very much on climate protection.”Photo: ARD
Most moralizing question
In the next one, climate researchers predict significantly more river floods, crop failures, forest fires or heat waves. Plasberg pleads with the man from Lausitz: “How do you deal with this prognosis for the future of your children?”
Lachmann would first like to say something about the question of weather or climate, but the talk show host does not tolerate delaying the carefully worked out moral question: “Please stick to the film for now!” He warns.
Nevertheless, the Lusatian does not allow himself to be put in the dock: “We are concentrating very much on climate protection,” he replies, “but we also have to look: What are we doing for climate adaptation?” That’s right!
Most exclusive recommendation
“We always only look at the CO2 balance”, complains the forester, in his three-part more a kind of country gentleman, “here forests have a completely different function. Everyone can try it out in their garden! “
And how? “On a hot summer’s day at 40 degrees, set up a parasol and sit under it,” suggests Wohlleben. “And then comparatively under an old tree. You can feel on your skin that it is cooler. “
His good news: “You can cool your own garden down by one or two degrees.” Hallelujah!
Green politician Anne Spiegel (40) says: “Extreme weather such as the flood disaster have shown how important it is to act quickly.”Photo: ARD
Most personal disappointment
In the first few decades, freshly planted afforestation emits more CO2 from the soil than the newly planted trees would absorb, Wohlleben then informed the astonished audience.
Plasberg can’t believe it: “With me in the family, we planted 104 trees in the Eifel for our birthday, he stammered in consternation. “Well, we also had a beer, but we thought we were doing something good. I am frustrated!”
Most tricky single player
The next video is about the German contribution to the global climate. “The CO2 emissions are only two percent,” it says. For comparison: “China more than 30 percent, USA just under 13 percent.”
But, according to the clever info curve: “If you convert the CO2 emissions to the inhabitants, it looks bad. With eight tons per capita, every person in Germany causes much more than the global average. “
Smartest counterattack
The talk show host promptly advises Germans to “make yourself honest and look in the mirror”.
But the WELT journalist quickly lets the hot air out of the fake balloon: “We are an industrialized country,” she explains as simply as it is true. And: France, for example, “has seventy percent CO2-free nuclear power!”
Furthest charge
Lachmann explains technical connections to the two environmental politicians: “You want to get out of coal in 2030, but currently half of us are still on the conventional network. That means we need alternatives. “
Reemtsma waving her hands indignantly: You still stink Lachmann’s gag with switching off the show. “If you are now trying to divert attention from climate protection efforts with horror stories of the blackout,” she snaps at the experts, “then you are not making a plea for just structural change in Lusatia!”
Uff – attack is the best defense, you can learn that in kindergarten.
Most overdue idea
The WELT journalist dares to venture into the contaminated area again: “Let’s just let the six nuclear power plants run longer! Then you can be outside with the coal in 2030! “
Mocking laughter at Grün and FFF! Nonetheless, Plasberg insists: “How false is it when we say we are out, but are buying nuclear power from the neighbors?” His direct question to the minister: “Is it so that you can laugh about it, Ms. Spiegel?”
Most treacherous excuse
“It was a rather desperate laugh,” replied the green minister, “because back then, because I firmly oppose nuclear energy, I went into politics in the first place.”
Hm – why should only the others learn, only the Greens not? “In Germany we have to ensure that nuclear energy is a thing of the past forever,” adds Spiegel defiantly.
Her worries: Dangerous technology, unsolved final disposal and, according to the minister, the phase-out must now also be prepared internationally. Hm – in China? Russia? UNITED STATES?
The forester and author Peter Wohlleben (57) mocked his minister after the election: “Julia Klöckner has just been dismissed – forest and animals breathe easy.”Photo: ARD
The crucial question of the evening
Plasberg cannot be shaken off: “Are the French blind?” He sneers with obvious relish. “Do we have other findings?”
The journalist assists that there is a breakthrough for nuclear power in the EU.
“As climate protection minister I clearly say no!” Says Spiegel upset, “and I have positioned myself that way.” Basta!
Proudest memory
The FFF activist also knows something to contribute: “In fact, an anti-nuclear demonstration was my first,” she reports.
“How old were you there?” Plasberg wants to know.
Answer: “Twelve.”
Smartest conclusion
“We cannot always discuss this whole topic in an emotionally charged manner,” Lachmann sums up the debate. “We sometimes have to stick to reality, to physics, and let this discourse be led by all scientists – not just always from one branch.”
Because, according to the Lusatian: “That is always too much of an opinion for me. What we don’t want is that we no longer have this standard of living, are no longer the industrialized nation that created this prosperity. ”Amen!
Quote of the evening
“It’s going to be really expensive!” Frank Plasberg
Conclusion: cheap sayings, flat slogans, fossil arguments. That was a talk in the tree science category: “The greener the wood, the thicker the smoke.”